COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli at a past function. [Photo/The star.]
The Central Organisation Of trade Unions (COTU) has objected the decision by the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Phylis Kendie to lift the ban that restricted Kenyans from working in the Middle East countries of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
According to the Daily Nation, COTU Secretary General ,Francis Atwoli said that the workers union was not consulted on the move by the national government and that the move was put there in 2014 after many Kenyans suffered.
"COTU was not consulted as well as other social partners. Labour Cabinet Secretary should understand that the ban was put in place after many Kenyans suffered and many died in the Middle East," Atwoli said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
In addition, the trade unionist said that the Kenyan government has not provided any information to show that the conditions in the Middle East had improved before it lifts the ban.
"Further, the Ministry of Labour has not provided any improvement report on the terms, conditions and services of work in Qatar and Saudi Arabia," he added.
Before the ban in 2014, many Kenyans who had gone to work in Qatar and Saudi Arabia were reported to have been abused and others died in mysterious circumstances.